College Football Week – Touchdown Tom’s Holiday Bonus
‘And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend’

It was the year of three popes and three plane crashes. It was the year of two blizzards and two earthquakes. The first casino opened in Atlantic City and the first test-tube baby was born. “Dallas” debuted on television, a new coin was authorized and minted, and sadly, it was the year of Jonestown.

Two college football teams split the national championship, sharing the No. 1 spot at the end of the season.

What year was it?

On the very first day of the year, Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashed into the ocean near Bombay, killing 213 people.

Two weeks later, “Fantasy Island” premiered on ABC. The Sex Pistols said farewell, playing their final show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, and former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey died.

“Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Forever and ever”

The following day, in the Superdome in New Orleans, the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XII, beating the Denver Broncos, 27-10. It was the Super Bowl of firsts – the first one played in a domed stadium and the first played in prime time. The game marked the first, and only, time two players – defensive tackle Randy White and defensive end Harvey Martin – were named MVP. It was also the first time a defensive lineman was named MVP in a Super Bowl.

Near the end of January, a tremendous blizzard blanketed the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes, killing 70 people. Three nights later, the Doobie Brothers made a guest appearance on ABC’s “What’s Happening.

On the first of February, film director Roman Polanski skipped bail and fled to France, after pleading guilty to charges of engaging in sex with a 13-year-old girl. Four days later, a second massive blizzard struck the U.S., this time in the Northeast, killing 100 people and causing more than $520 million in damage.

The following week, Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314, a Boeing 737-200 passenger jet, crashed in Cranbrook, British Columbia, killing 44 of the 50 people on board. “How the West Was Won” premiered on CBS. In Florida, serial killer Ted Bundy was captured in Pensacola, while in California, the “Hillside Strangler,” a serial killer in Los Angeles, claimed his tenth and final victim.

As March began, Charlie Chaplain’s remains were stolen from the cemetery in Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland. A week later, porn publisher Larry Flynt was shot and paralyzed in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

In the middle of March, “The Incredible Hulk” premiered on CBS, and former Italian Premier Aldo Moro was kidnapped by the Red Brigade. Five of his bodyguards were killed. A week later, Karl Wallenda, of “The Flying Wallendas,” died after falling off a tight-rope stretched between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In St. Louis, near the end of March, Kentucky, coached by Joe B. Hall, beat Duke, 94-88, to win the NCAA Basketball Championship. Kentucky’s Jake Givens was named the MVP. The next day, Daryl Gates became the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, succeeding Robert F. Rock. Gates would keep the position for the next 14 years.

On the 2nd of April, “Dallas” debuted on CBS, giving birth to the modern-day prime-time soap opera. The next day, at the 50th Academy Awards, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, “Annie Hall” won for Best Picture. The Best Actor Award went to Richard Dreyfuss for “The Goodbye Girl,” while the Best Actress Award went to Diane Keaton for “Annie Hall.”

A week later, Gary Player won the Masters Golf Tournament. It was Player’s third Masters title. Going into the final round, he overcame a 7-point shot deficit to win.

“I see myself within your eyes
And that’s all I need to show me why
Everything I do
Always takes me home to you
Forever and ever”

In mid-April, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to turn the Panama Canal over to Panamanian control, effective January 1, 2000. Meanwhile, Soviet air defense shot down Korean Airlines Flight 902. The plane made an emergency landing on a frozen lake in Russia. Two days later, on “Saturday Night Live,” Steve Martin performed the original “King Tut” and The Blues Brothers made their first appearance.

During the first week of May, the Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose got his 3,000th hit. Ipswich Town won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal, 1-0, in London’s Wembley Stadium, and at the 104th running of the Kentucky Derby, Affirmed, ridden by jockey Steve Cauthen, won.

On the 9th of May, the corpse of former Italian Premier Aldo Moro was found in a red Renault. During the middle of the month, Barry Gibb became the first and only songwriter in history to have written four consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Charlie Chaplain’s coffin was found near Lake Geneva, nine miles from the cemetery from which it was stolen, and Mavis Hutchinson became the first woman to run across the U.S. Her trek took 69 days.

On May 25th, a bomb exploded in a building on the campus of Northwestern University, wounding a security guard – the first Unabomber attack. The Who performed their last show with drummer Keith Moon, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins, 4 matches to 2, to win NHL’s Stanley Cup. Larry Robinson was named the MVP.

The next day, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Resorts International opened for business – the first legal casino in the eastern U.S. Two days later, Al Unser won his third Indianapolis 500.

The FIFA World Cup began play in Argentina on June 1.

A few days later, California voters approved Proposition 13, which slashed property taxes 60%. On June 7th, the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 4 games to 3, to win the NBA Championship. Wes Unseld was named the most valuable player.

In Paris, at the French Open Tennis Championship, Romania’s Virginia Ruzici beat Yugoslavia’s Mimi Jausovec to win the women’s singles title. The next day, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg beat Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas to take the men’s singles title.

At the 110th running of the Belmont Stakes, Affirmed won the race, becoming a Triple Crown winner. The Rolling Stones opened their 25-date U.S. summer tour in Lakeland, Florida.

On June 12th, Princess Gator was born.

Serial killer David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” was sentenced to 365 years in prison. Three days later, King Hussein of Jordan married 26-year-old Lisa Halaby, who took the name Queen Noor. The following day, the movie “Grease,” starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opened in U.S. theaters.

“Now I know my life
Has given me more than memories
Day by day….we can see
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on”

Summer was underway and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening to “Love Is Like Oxygen” by Sweet; “Dance With Me” by Peter Brown and Betty Wright; “This Time I’m In It For Love” by Player; “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” by Meat Loaf; “Werewolves Of London” by Warren Zevon; “Every Kinda People” by Robert Palmer; “With A Little Luck” by Paul McCartney and Wings; “It’s A Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler; “Deacon Blues” by Steely Dan; “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” by Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams, and “You’re The One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

In mid-June at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colorado, Andy North won his first U.S. Open Golf title. He beat Dave Stockton and J.C. Snead by one stroke. The next day, “Garfield,” which became the most widely syndicated comic strip, made its debut. On June 20th, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, killing 45 people and injuring hundreds.

Meanwhile, the radio stations were playing “Heartless” by Heart; “Because The Night” by The Patti Smith Group; “You’re The Love” by Seals & Crofts; “You Belong To Me” by Carly Simon; “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb; “Cheeseburger In Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett; “Follow You, Follow Me” by Genesis; “Take A Chance On Me” by ABBA; “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty; “Oh What A Night For Dancing” by Barry White, and “I Was Only Joking” by Rod Stewart.

As June came to a close, Argentina defeated the Netherlands, 3-1 in extra time, to win the World Cup, and Peter Frampton was nearly killed in a car accident in the Bahamas.

Three days past July the 4th, the Solomon Islands became independent from the United Kingdom, and Czechoslovakia’s Martina Navratilova beat American Chris Evert to win the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon. The next day, Sweden’s Bjorn Borg defeated American Jimmy Connors to win the men’s title.

As the summer air grew thicker and warmer, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Even Now” by Barry Manilow; “Thank God It’s Friday” by Love and Kisses; “The Groove Line” by Heatwave; “It’s The Same Old Song” by KC and The Sunshine Band; “Only The Good Die Young” by Billy Joel; “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton; “Still The Same” by Bob Seger; “Last Dance” by Donna Summer, and “If Ever I See You Again” by Roberta Flack.

During the middle of July, more than 200 people died in an explosion of a tanker truck at a campsite in Costa Dorada, Spain. At the Old Course in St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, Jack Nicklaus won his third British Open Golf Championship.

The summer airwaves continued to be filled with music, including “Can We Still Be Friends” by Todd Rundgren; “Runaway” by Jefferson Starship; “King Tut” by Steve Martin; “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones; “Grease” by Frankie Valli; “Magnet And Steel” by Walter Eagan; “FM” by Steely Dan; “My Angel Baby” by Toby Beau, and “Rivers Of Babylon” by Boney M.

“Sweet love’s showing us a heavenly light
Never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we’ll be doin’ it”

Near the end of July, Louis Brown, the world’s first test-tube baby, was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, U.K.

On August 6th, Pope Paul VI died in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The same day, at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, John Mahaffey won the PGA title, his only major championship. He beat Jerry Pate and Tom Watson in a sudden death playoff to win.

Summer was coming to an end and college football fans couldn’t wait for the season to begin. Alabama was the No. 1 team in the preseason polls. The top songs on the radio were “Stay”/“The Load Out” by Jackson Browne; “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh; “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow; “Stuff Like That” by Quincy Jones; “Hot Child In The City” by Nick Gilder; “Songbird” by Barbra Streisand; “I’ve Had Enough” by Paul McCartney and Wings, and “Just What I Needed” by The Cars;

In mid-August, Double Eagle II became the first balloon to successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean, flying from Presque Isle, Maine to Misery, France. In Central America, the Sandinistas seized the Nicaraguan National Palace.

Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “Shame” by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King; “Three Times A Lady” by The Commodores; “Two Tickets To Paradise” by Eddie Money; “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey; “Macho Man” by The Village People; “You” by Rita Coolidge; “You And I” by Rick James, and “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner.

In the waning days of August, Pope John Paul I succeeded Pope Paul VI as the 263rd Pope.

During the first week of September, Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat began the Camp David peace process accords in Maryland, and The Who’s Keith Moon died at the Curzon Palace in Mayfair, London, from a drug overdose at the age of 32. Just a day later, Iranian army troops open fired on rioters in Tehran, killing 122 and wounding 4,000.

At the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, American Chris Evert beat American Pam Shriver to take the women’s single title. It was Evert’s fourth consecutive U.S. Open title and eighth grand slam title. The next day, American Jimmy Connors defeated Sweden’s Bjorn Borg for the men’s singles title. It marked Connors’ third U.S. Open title and fifth career grand slam win.

Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “Close The Door” by Teddy Pendergrass; “Fool (If You Think It’s Over) by Chris Rea; “Hopelessly Devoted To You” by Olivia Newton John; “Kiss You All Over” by Exile, and “I Love The Nightlife” by Alicia Bridges.

“Sweet love’s showing us a heavenly light
I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight
See love glowing on us every night
I know forever we’ll be doin’ it right”

On September 16, a 7.4 earthquake hit Tabas, Iran, killing 15,000 people. The following day, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Peace Accords.

“Taxi,” “Mork & Mindy” and “WKRP in Cincinnati” all made their television premiers during September. A first class postage stamp cost 15 cents. A loaf of bread was 33 cents, and the price of a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline was 68 cents.

September 23 was an upsetting day in college football. No. 7 USC knocked off No. 1 Alabama, 24-14. Two days later, Oklahoma was named the No. 1 team in the country. On the day the Sooners became No. 1, PSA Flight 122, a Boeing 727, collided with a small private plane and crashed in San Diego – 144 people were killed.

College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “An Everlasting Love” by Andy Gibb; “Love Is In The Air” by John Paul Young; “You Needed Me” by Anne Murray, and “A Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy” by The Kinks.

Near the end of September, Pope John Paul I died after only 33 days of papacy. On the last day of the month, Virginia Tech beat William & Mary, 22-19, on a 50-yard touchdown pass from David Lamie to Ron Zollicoffer on the last play of the game.

October began with Vietnam attacking Cambodia. Nine days later, the minting of the Susan B. Anthony dollar was authorized.

On the 16th of the month, John Paul II succeeded John Paul I as the 264th Pope, resulting in the first year of three popes since 1605. John Paul II was the first Polish pope in history and the first non-Italian pope since 1523.

A day later, the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2, to win the World Series. Yankees’ shortstop Bucky Dent was named the MVP. On the third Saturday in October, Doug Dobbs kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give Arkansas State a 6-3 win over McNeese State.

As Halloween approached, college football fans were carving their pumpkins to “Oh! Darling” by Robin Gibb; “Hollywood Nights” by Bob Seger; “Took The Last Train” by David Gates; “She’s Always A Woman” by Billy Joel; “Right Down The Line” by Gerry Rafferty; “Don’t Look Back” by Boston; “Back In The U.S.A.” by Linda Ronstadt; “Dance (Disco Heat)” by Sylvester; “Josie” by Steely Dan; “It’s A Laugh” by Daryl Hall & John Oates; “Who Are You” by The Who; “Sweet Life” by Paul Davis, and “How Much I Feel” by Ambrosia.

At the end of the month, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts achieving a Middle East accord.

The unemployment rate was 6.1% and the yearly inflation rate stood at 7.62%. A dozen eggs cost 48 cents. The price of a pound of bacon and a pound of butter was $1.20 and $1.33 respectively.

“Whenever I call you friend
I believe I’ve come to understand
Everywhere we are
You and I were meant to be
Forever and ever”

The first week of November saw rioters attack the British Embassy in Tehran, while in India, Indira Gandhi was re-elected to parliament.

As the college football season was nearing an end, college football fans were singing to “Prisoner Of Your Love” by Player; “Beast Of Burden” by The Rolling Stones; “MacArthur Park” by Donna Summer; “I Just Wanna Stop” by Gino Vannelli; “Everybody Needs Love” by Stephen Bishop; “Blue Collar Man” by Styx; “Don’t Want To Live Without It” by Pablo Cruise, and “Ready To Take A Chance Again” by Barry Manilow.

On the second weekend in November, San Jose State beat Pacific, 33-31, as time expired, on a five-yard pass from Ed Luther to Rick Parma. The same weekend, No. 4 Nebraska upset No. 1 Oklahoma, 17-14. Two days later, Penn State became the No. 1 team in the country.

At mid-November, in Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones led his Peoples Temple cult in a mass-murder suicide that claimed 918 lives. The incident included the assassination of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, by the Peoples Temple cult.

At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “Change Of Heart” by Eric Carmen; “Sharing The Night Together” by Dr. Hook; “Straight On” by Heart; “Double Vision” by Foreigner; “Raining In My Heart” by Leo Sayer; “Time Passages” by Al Stewart; “Strange Way” by Firefall, and “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan.

As November came to a close, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by former Supervisor Dan White, and in college football, Penn State, at 11-0, was the only team to finish the regular season undefeated.

Just a few days into December, Diane Feinstein succeeded the murdered George Moscone to become San Francisco’s first female mayor. Two days later, the Spanish Constitution formally restored the country’s democratic government.

The consensus All-American first team offense consisted of wide receiver Emanuel Tolbert – SMU (5-10, 180) Little Rock, AR; tight end Kellen Winslow – Missouri (6-6, 235) East St. Louis, IL; tackle Keith Dorney – Penn State (6-5, 257) Allentown, PA; tackle Kevin Clark – Nebraska (6-4, 275) Odessa, TX; guard Pat Howell – USC (6-6, 255) Fresno, CA; guard Greg Roberts – Oklahoma (6-3, 238) Nacogdoches, TX; center Dave Huffman – Notre Dame (6-5, 245) Dallas, TX; center Jim Ritcher – NC State (6-3, 242) Hinckley, OH; quarterback Chuck Fusina – Penn State (6-1, 195) McKees Rocks, PA; running back Billy Sims – Oklahoma (6-0, 205) Hooks, TX; running back Charles White – USC (5-11, 183) San Fernando, CA; running back Ted Brown – NC State (5-10, 195) High Point, NC, and running back Charles Alexander – LSU (6-1, 214) Galveston, TX.

“I think about the times to come
Knowin’ I will be the lucky one
And ever our love will last
I always want to call you friend”

Oklahoma running back Billy Sims won the Heisman Trophy. Sims was followed in the voting by (2) Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina, (3) Michigan quarterback Rick Leach and (4) USC running back Charles White.

Sims also won the Walter Camp Award as college football’s most outstanding player, while Fusina won the Maxwell Award as college football’s most outstanding player.

The Outland Trophy for the best interior lineman went to Oklahoma guard Greg Roberts. The Lombardi Award for the best lineman or linebacker was won by Penn State defensive tackle Bruce Clark.

On December 11, two million Iranians demonstrated against the Shah, while in the U.S., six men robbed the Lufthansa cargo facility at John F. Kennedy Airport. Two days later, the first Susan B. Anthony dollars were minted in Philadelphia.

The movie “Superman” was released on the 15th of December. The same day, Cleveland, Ohio, became the first major American city to go into default since the Great Depression.

Some of the best albums of the year were “Parallel Lines” by Blondie; “Outlandos d’Amour” by The Police; “52nd Street” by Billy Joel; “Some Girls” by The Rolling Stones; “Kaya” by Bob Marley and the Wailers; “Comes a Time” by Neil Young; “Street-Legal” by Bob Dylan; “Backless” by Eric Clapton, and “You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish” by REO Speedwagon.

Also, “Infinity” by Journey; “Pieces of Eight” by Styx; “You’re Gonna Get It” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; “Hemispheres” by Rush; “Here, My Dear” by Marvin Gaye; “Stardust” by Willie Nelson; “Blondes Have More Fun” by Rod Stewart; “A Single Man” by Elton John; “Babylon by Bus” by Bob Marley and the Wailers; “Natural High” by The Commodores, and “City to City” by Gerry Rafferty.

Also, “Endless Wire” by Gordon Lightfoot; “Plastic Letters” by Blondie; “Street Hassle” by Lou Reed; “The Last Waltz” by The Band; “Heaven Tonight” by Cheap Trick; “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by Bruce Springsteen; “Double Vision” by Foreigner; “Nightwatch” by Kenny Loggins; “Heartbreaker” by Dolly Parton; “Time Passages” by Al Stewart, and “Dire Straits” by Dire Straits.

In the first bowl games of the season, Arizona State defeated Rutgers, 34-18, in the Garden State Bowl, while East Carolina beat Louisiana Tech, 35-17, in the Independence Bowl. In the All-America Bowl, Texas A&M downed Iowa State, 28-12.

With Christmas near and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their Holiday shopping to “The Power Of Gold” by Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg; “Instant Replay” by Dan Hartman; “Promises” by Eric Clapton; “(Our Love) Don’t Throw It All Away” by Andy Gibb; “New York Grove” by KISS; “Alive Again” by Chicago; “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars; “How You Gonna See Me Now” by Alice Cooper; “Y.M.C.A.” by The Village People; “We’ve Got Tonite” by Bob Seger; “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond; “Le Freak” by Chic; “Take Me To The River” by Talking Heads; “My Life” by Billy Joel; “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers, and “Please Come Home For Christmas” by The Eagles.

“Now I know my life
Has given me more than memories
Day by day….we can see
In every moment there’s a reason to carry on”

A few days before Christmas, Navy won the Holiday Bowl, beating BYU, 23-16. Texas beat Maryland, 42-0, in the Sun Bowl, while Missouri edged LSU in the Liberty Bowl, 20-15.

Some of the popular movies of the year were “Grease;” “Midnight Express;” “The Deer Hunter;” “The Boys from Brazil;” “The Buddy Holly Story;” “Days of Heaven,” and “Every Which Way but Loose.”

Also, “Heaven Can Wait;” “Same Time, Next Year;” “Superman;” “California Suite;” “Death on the Nile;” “Comes a Horseman;” “Coming Home;” “Animal House;” “Force 10 from Navarone,” and “The Last Waltz.”

On Christmas Day, Purdue won the Peach Bowl, dumping Georgia Tech, 41-21, and Arkansas and UCLA played to a 10-10 tie in the Fiesta Bowl.

Some of the better reads during the year included “The Thorn Birds” by Colleen McCullough; “The Honorable Schoolboy” by John le Carre; “Beggarman, Thief” by Irwin Shaw; “The Second Deadly Sin” by Lawrence Sanders; “The Immigrants” by Howard Fast; “Scruples” by Judith Krantz; “The Human Factor” by Graham Greene, and “The Holcroft Covenant” by Robert Ludlum.

Also, “The World According to Garp” by John Irving; “The Last Convertible” by Anton Meyer; “Evergreen” by Belva Plain; “Eye of the Needle” by Ken Follett; “Chesapeake” by James Michener; “War and Remembrance” by Herman Wouk; “The Far Pavilions” by M.M. Kaye; “Second Generation” by Howard Fast; “Prelude to Terror” by Helen MacInnes; “The Empty Copper Sea” by John MacDonald, and “Bright Flows the River” by Taylor Caldwell.

Well-known people who were born during the year included James Franco; Katherine Heigl; Mathew Goode; Katie Holmes; Ashton Kutcher; Topher Grace; Alex Rodriguez; Bubba Watson; Frank Lampard; Kurt Busch; Usher, and Kobe Bryant.

Also, Rachel McAdams; Enrique Iglesias; Josh Hartnett; Jesse Palmer; John Legend; Shane Battier; Joey Harrington; Tim Hasselbeck; Champ Bailey; Josh Heupel; LaVar Arrington; Chase Utley; Erin Andrews, and Chelsea Carnohan Cushing.

“Sweet love….sweet love, yeah
Sweet love….sweet love, yeah
You’re the glowin’ light in my life
Source of pride in my life”

The consensus All-American first team defense consisted of defensive lineman Al Harris – Arizona State (6-5, 240) Wheeler AFB, Hawaii; lineman Bruce Clark – Penn State (6-3, 246) New Castle, PA; lineman Hugh Green – Pitt (6-2, 215) Natchez, MS; lineman Mike Bell – Colorado State (6-5, 265) Wichita, KS; lineman Marty Lyons – Alabama (6-6, 250) St. Petersburg, FL; linebacker Bob Golic – Notre Dame (6-3, 244) Willowick, OH; linebacker Jerry Robinson – UCLA (6-3, 209) Santa Rosa, CA; linebacker Tom Cousineau – Ohio State (6-3, 227) Fairview Park, OH; defensive back Johnnie Johnson – Texas (6-2, 183) LaGrange, TX; defensive back Kenny Easley – UCLA (6-2, 202) Chesapeake, VA; defensive back Jeff Nixon – Richmond (6-4, 195) Glendale, AZ.

Two days after Christmas, the Constitution of Spain was approved, officially ending 40 years of military dictatorship.

Famous people who passed away during the year included Bob Crane; Hubert Humphrey; Margaret Mead; Golda Meir; Harvey Milk; George Moscone; Jacques Brel; Pope John Paul I; Dan Dailey; Norman Rockwell, and Gig Young.

Also, John D. Rockefeller III; Ilka Chase; Ford Frick; Totie Fields; Pope Paul VI; Louis Prima; Charles Boyer; Jack Warner; Bruce Catton; Jack Oakie; Edgar Bergen, Carl Betz; Maybelle Carter; Keith Moon; and Chill Wills.

On December 29, Clemson beat Ohio State, 17-15, in the Gator Bowl.

The most popular TV shows of the year were “The Incredible Hulk;” “Dallas;” “Mork & Mindy;” “Taxi;” “WKRP in Cincinnati;” “Happy Days;” “Barney Miller;” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Laverne & Shirley.”

Also, “The Love Boat;” “Three’s Company;” “M*A*S*H;” “The Waltons;” “The Jefferson’s;” “Alice;” “Little House on the Prairie;” “The Rockford Files;” “Quincy, M.E.,” and “CHiPs.”

During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating and singing to “Part-Time Love” by Elton John; “Bicycle Race”/“Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen; “Every 1’s A Winner” by Hot Chocolate; “I Was Made For Dancin’” by Leif Garrett; “Fire” by The Pointer Sisters; “A Man I’ll Never Be” by Boston; “Shake It” by Ian Mathews; “Too Much Heaven” by The Bee Gees; “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire; “Don’t Cry Out Loud” by Melissa Manchester; “Lotta Love” by Nicolette Larson; “A Little More Love” by Olivia Newton-John; “Home And Dry” by Gerry Rafferty; “Got To Be real” by Cheryl Lynn; “Soul Man” by The Blues Brothers, and “Baby I’m Burnin’” by Dolly Parton.

At the close of the year, the DOW closed at 805.

“Whenever I call you friend
I begin to think I understand
Anywhere we are
You and I have always been
Forever and ever”

On New Year’s Eve, Stanford beat Georgia in the Bluebonnet Bowl, 25-22. The seventh annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special aired on ABC, with performances by Barry Manilow, Village People, Chuck Mangione, Tanya Tucker and Rick James.

In the final four and crucial bowl games of the season, Notre Dame slipped by Houston in the Cotton Bowl, 35-34, and Oklahoma got revenge, downing Nebraska 31-24 in the Orange Bowl.

In the Rose Bowl, USC edged Michigan, 17-10, and in the Sugar Bowl, No. 2 Alabama handed No. 1 Penn State its first loss of the season. The Crimson Tide beat the Nittany Lions, 14-7.

After all was played and done, two teams split the national championship. Alabama (11-1), coached by Bear Bryant, was No. 1 in the AP Poll, while USC (12-1), coached by John Robinson, was No. 1 in the UPI Poll.

“Whenever I Call You Friend” was recorded by Kenny Loggins, with backing vocals by Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. The song was written by Loggins and Melissa Manchester. “Whenever I Call You Friend” debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart on July 29 and remained there for 20 weeks, throughout the entire football season, until December 16. The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Manchester was intended to record the backing vocals, but she and Loggins were under different contracts which would not allow them to record together. Loggins got to know Nicks when he was the opening act for Fleetwood Mac during an 18-month tour.

The year and football season was 1978.

Touchdown Tom
December 16, 2016
www.collegefootballweek.blogspot.com